CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 47

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Obsehvhb. The track work at Riccarton during the past week has not provided a great deal of excitement. Most of the .horses have done a- good deal of racing this season, but with the approach of Easter there should be more interest in the work during the next few weeks. The jockeys Harold >and George Young have appealed to the Racing Conference against the decision of the Canterbury District Committee in cancelling their licenses. In the meantime, they are regular attendants at the training track, riding the members of the Chokebore Lodge team in their work. v -^ Bore is very forward at present, and F. D. Jones is working him along in view of early cross country engagements. He may start off. with a trip to Invercargill this month. Tyne is on the improve, and he may get among the winners before long. He was a trifle unlucky at Oamaru. Clean Sweep has been showing signs of lameness, which is hard ruck for his connections, as he was coming on nicely, and looked certain to do well in the autumn. Warlove is bowling along freely in her work, but in her recent races she has failed to stay, to the disappointment of her admirers, as it was thought stamina would be her forte. ■ .

Though Gamecock was nominated . for the Napier Park and Dannevirkc meetings, he did hot go north. P. M'Grath will keen him going for races on the flat, but will also give him regular schooling over the pony hurdles, in the hope ■ of winning a jumping race during- the winter. Bombproof is the'latest jumping recruit at Riccarton._ He shapes quite promisingly in his schooling. Mr H. . Tinker's Stralitza. by_ San Francisco—White Shield, has gone into R. W. King's stable. The Terrapin gelding Sonnv. who won a couple of hunters' races at Riccarton last winter, has been placed under the care of H. Ellis, to prepare for future engagements. F. E. Jones, who has been training at Washdyke for some' time, has decided to relinquish his trainer's license and to resume his old occupation as a jockey. He will, however, continue to train a few trotters and pacers. The return of Jones to the saddle will be welcome, with so few good jockeys about at present. The committee of tho Canterbury Jockey Club has afc present under consideration the programme for the race meeting to be held at Riccarton on Saturday. May 8, during the visit to Christ-church of tho Prince of Wales. It has been decided that there shall be six races during- the afternoon, with total stakes in the neighbourhood of £SOOO. Excellent provision has been made for jumpers, as there will bo a hurdle race of £SOO, over a mile and threequarters, and a steeplechase of £750. over two miles and a-half. The most valuable stake will bs £ISOO, for the Royal Handicap, one mile and a-half. while £6OO will be given for a hack handicap of a mile and a-quartor. The remainder of the programme has not been settled yet. but 't should be filially approved in a few days. Tho committee has decided .to attach to each a cup or piece of plate for the winner, as a memento of a notable meeting. -

The New Brighton Trotting- Club is in an excellent, position at. present, so far as this year's New Zealand Trottiner Derby is oonoarned. Two months from the elate of the race eight horses have had their classic engagements continued, so that there .is ample material for a good field. The prospects of the race, however, are by no means dependent on the number- of competitors available, as quality is well represented. Jean TrOga.li, Lady Swithin and Doraldina have shown themselves to be exceptionally brilliant fillies, and thev would suffice for a good contest, even if there were no other competitors. The Timaru Trotting Olnb held a very successful meeting on Thursday. The weather was fine and there was a very largo attendance, including a strong contingent

of Christchurch enthusiasts. The fields were large for most of the events, and the racing was exceptionally good. There were 21 starters for the Trial Handicap, but a number of them failed to get going at the start. Mother Maohree, by Emilius from, Silver Princess, made most of the running, but Wee Franzie was always handy, and won easily. Final Leave and Annie's Dream were at the*head of a bunch, among whom were several who could have been closer up. Moondrift showed pace for a mile and a-quarter, and is a sure winner shortly. Belle Logan also went well in the early stages, and will do better.

The- Waimate Handicap attracted 23 trotters. Ohapi began smartly, and had the race in hand a long way from home. He is trained by J. Armstrong, who has achieved a deal of success with horses who have been considered past their best. The winner paid a big dividend. Moving Picture had no chance with the winner, but finished on well to beat the second favourite, Lady Esma, who failed to stay, while she went unsteadily. Wonder Why, the favourite, went off at a pace, and did not shape well even when pulled into hi» proper gain There weret, 13 competitors for the Timaru Handicap, and they provided a" very interesting race. . Emperor was always well placed, and, finishing in fine style, he won b v a length from Pleasant Mount, who was responsible for all th-3 pace; the manner in which she stayed out the journey coming as a surprise. Rorfte's Drift paced a sound race and finished third, just beating Bundura. Shanghai was close up, putting up a good performance. The favourite, Partner, • was never prominent. Joyful paced well for a mile and a-half; Dixie Lee went off well, but was done with six furlongs from home. The Oamaru mare ,Sashwood shaped badly. The winner has done a lot of racing this season, and has been a very consistent earner of place money. Seventeen was the main for the Seadown Handicap, in saddle. Watchman went off smartlv and soon had a good lead, but he .faded but at the end. He is now owned by E. M'Dermott, who may get a race out of the disappointing gelding before long. Vera K. came with a great rattle at the end, and just won from Imperial Junior, wit'i Treasure Seeker close up, just in front of Dusky Dillon, a speedy gelding who failed to stay. y - There was a small field of six for the Temuka Handicap, a harness race for unhoppled trotters. It was a poor race, Bellena King being in front all the way, and winning by 50 yards from Marvin Junior, with Ohapi 60 yards further back. The winner is a sister to that good pacer Brown Bell, by Rothschild—Lena Bell. She is a good trotter, but unsound. The Judicial Committee was not satisfied with the performance of the scratch horse, Theseus. His driver, W. Brown, was dvqualified for six months, after the committee had heard him in explanation. A field of 15 lined up for the Washdyke Handicap, and they provided a fine race. Rangitata Lass stayed on well to beat Miss Edith and Doreen Dillon, with Ouimet close up. The winner is a very solid pacer, though her action is not good. Doreen Dillon failed to stay,' but Miss Edith was going on at the end, after beinir unlucky. Just after the raco was run a wheel of Doreen Dillon's sulky hit a post, B-. Jarden being capsized. -He received a severe shaking, but he was out again in the next two races.

Although there were only six starters for the Fairlie Handicap it was an interesting race, Guynemer just winning from Vilo and Chaos. He stayed on well, and owed his success to his stamina. "Vilo was stopping a bit at the end. Chaos showed .great speed, and bufj for two bad breaks he would have won. He looked a likely winner 50 yards from, home, when he made his second mistake. ' ' ~

A field of 13 speedy milers contested the Farewell Handicap. Kickorywood made the early pace, but faded out' in the straight. Ouimet was then left in. command, but Retreat finished well and beat him decisively, Bridgewood coming with a great run to get third place from Idris. who was stopping a bit at the end. Tho winner has not raced for some time, but she is a very solid pacer.